June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, and Redefine Healthcare wants our patients to be aware of their treatment options. Scoliosis is marked by a curvature of the spine. As many as 6 million people live with scoliosis, whether idiopathic (without a known cause) or developed during adulthood due to degenerative changes in the spine.

Redefine Healthcare provides treatment for patients with varying degrees of scoliosis and who are at different phases of their scoliosis journey. With the recent addition of three board-certified spine surgeons to our team, we also offer scoliosis correction surgery for advanced cases.

Pain Management

A curve in the spine can put pressure on discs, joints, nerves, and other structures of the spine, resulting in pain and inflammation. Pain management focuses on controlling pain and other related symptoms. Redefine Healthcare uses non-surgical modalities like nerve blocks and steroid injections to relieve pain and help patients live more comfortably with scoliosis.

Chiropractic

Spinal curvature can also result in difficulty breathing and other lung problems. While treatment from a chiropractor doesn’t exactly straighten out the spine, it can help reduce these effects by decreasing the pressure the spine puts on structures in the nervous system.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for scoliosis focuses on strengthening the back and stabilizing the spine. This can prevent the curve from progressing, improve your balance and posture, and reduce any pain and accompanying symptoms. Your physical therapist will also teach you exercises and other techniques to self-manage your scoliosis outside of our clinic.

Spine Surgery

If non-surgical treatment for scoliosis has failed to provide pain relief, or your condition has progressed, surgical options are now offered at Redefine Healthcare. Our three board-certified spine surgeons are experts in scoliosis surgery, including decompression, spinal fusion, and revision surgery. We use minimally-invasive techniques to reduce pain during and after surgery resulting in quicker recoveries.

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Redefine Healthcare has partnered with Premier Brain & Spine to offer spine surgery at multiple locations. When interventional treatments for back and neck pain fail to provide adequate relief, surgery may be your next option, and now you don’t need to go far to see a specialist. This team provides surgical intervention for conditions like spinal cord injuries, spinal stenosis, and more.

Meet The Team

Dr. David Wells-Roth

Dr. David Wells-Roth is board-certified in neurosurgery. He completed medical school at George Washington University School of Medicine and then completed his surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at Weill-Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Wells-Roth has additional specialized fellowship training in interventional neuroradiology as well as skull-based neurovascular surgery. He also trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Oncologic Surgery of the brain and spine. Dr. Wells-Roth provides the highest quality cerebrovascular surgical and endovascular techniques to patients with acquired and congenital neurovascular disease. He has expertise in minimally invasive spinal surgery and complex spinal instrumentation.

Dr. Harshpal Singh

Dr. Harshpal Singh is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has advanced subspecialized training in both neuro-radiology and complex and minimally invasive spinal surgery. He has extensive experience treating a broad range of complex patient conditions using the latest treatment approaches. Dr. Singh attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, followed by a residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he served as Chief Resident. During his fellowship training at the University of Miami, Dr. Singh focused on treating spinal cord injuries, severe spinal trauma, and complex cervical spine deformities. He is also highly experienced in treating neurological head trauma and general neurosurgery. His clinical research has centered on spinal fusion and complex revision spinal surgery. Dr. Singh believes that a strong physician-patient relationship is critical to a positive outcome. He works hard to get to know patients on a personal level, and ensures that they are comfortable with, and confident in, the treatment approach selected.

Dr. Aaron J. Greenberg

Originally from Dallas, TX, Dr. Aaron J. Greenberg specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions of the spine. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Dr. Greenberg returned to Texas for medical training. He was elected into the AOA honor society after finishing in the top of his medical school class at Texas Tech University. Dr. Greenberg is board-certified in orthopedic spine surgery.

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Don’t assume your neck or back pain may require invasive spine surgery with months of recovery. Many of our patients at Redefine Healthcare who come to us with pain or post-injury make a full recovery without even considering surgery. Even if your condition warrants surgery, Redefine Healthcare has partnered with some of the area’s top spine surgeons to provide patients access to quality spine care when surgery may be your next step.

Non-Surgical Treatment For Back Pain

At Redefine Healthcare, we always begin treatment plans with the least invasive methods. This may include the classic RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), physical therapy, or over-the-counter medication. Redefine Healthcare provides state-of-the-art physical therapy facilities at several of our locations. Our program utilizes therapeutic exercise, massage therapy, electrical stimulation, and more to restore function and mobility in the spine while relieving pain.

Our spine specialists may choose to move to interventional pain management treatments, such as nerve blocks, steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, and more. These are tried-and-true methods for pain relief and can be extremely effective in managing pain while recovering from an injury or living with a chronic pain condition by using ache-blocking techniques to make daily activities and movement more comfortable. We are committed to helping you through your pain, which is why we will utilize various techniques until we find the best option for managing your pain and relieving it.

Is Spine Surgery Right for Me?

Spine surgery may be an option if conservative treatment with Redefine Healthcare has yet to help your pain. Surgery can provide a more definite option to relieve pain and other symptoms of a spine condition. Additional signs you may be ready for spine surgery:

• Your quality of life is being affected by your condition.If your neck or back pain has progressed past an annoyance, it may be time to look into surgery. When you’re used to living an active lifestyle, or can no longer work certain jobs due your mobility limitations, spine surgery can help you back to an active lifestyle.
• Your symptoms have worsened. Severe symptoms like loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness or loss of sensation, extreme pain, among others, may lead to permanent nerve damage if left untreated. Conservative treatments will not correct the issue causing these conditions, and you may need surgery. Contact your doctor right away if you experience any of those symptoms.

Redefine Healthcare offers interventional treatment for neck and back pain, including pain management, chiropractic care, and physical therapy. If these treatments fail to provide you with the relief you need, you don’t need to go far to ask about the surgery. Premier Brain & Spine, home to three of the area’s top neuro- and spine surgeons, is now accepting patients at several Redefine Healthcare locations. Dr. David Wells-Roth, Dr. Harshpal Singh, and Dr. Aaron Greenberg are all board-certified surgeons, experts in minimally invasive surgical techniques to limit recovery time and get you back to a pain-free lifestyle as soon as possible. Contact us today for an appointment and to learn more about your options.

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With several feet of snow hitting New Jersey already this year, there’s a good chance you’ve spent more than your fair share of time shoveling. We know it’s not everyone’s favorite activity, but Redefine Healthcare can help make it easier and finish out this winter injury-free.

Proper Snow Shoveling Technique

Using the proper technique for shoveling snow can prevent injury and increase efficiency. Moving heavy shovels full of snow repeatedly without proper form can put you at a huge risk of injury.

• Warm-up. Just as you would for other forms of exercise, loosen up with some stretches and bring your heart rate up gradually with some light calisthenics before shoveling.
• Grip near the shovel blade to keep it close to you when lifting the snow to reduce strain on your back.
• When lifting, squat with your legs apart, knees bent, and back straight.
• Work different muscles by switching between a right-handed and left-handed stance.
• Your shovel doesn’t need to be full of snow every time! Shoveling smaller amounts for a longer amount of time can be less strenuous than trying to toss heavy chunks.
• Take breaks. Snow shoveling can be equivalent to both aerobic exercise and strength training. We recommend staying outside for no longer than 40 minutes at a time. Break up that chunk of time into 10- or 20-minute intervals and drink plenty of water.
• Make shoveling a workout. If you’re shoveling snow properly, you’ll be working your glutes, hamstrings, quads, abs, lower back, upper back, and shoulders. Once you nail your form, make shoveling a double-duty chore and up the fitness factor!

Common Snow Shoveling Injuries

1. Back Injury
2. Shoulder Pain
3. Pulled or Strained Muscle
4. Injury From Falling or Slipping

While we hope you’ve made it through the past couple of snowstorms injury-free, if you’ve sustained any of the following injuries or are experiencing back pain, neck pain, or any other symptoms, see the pain experts at Redefine Healthcare. Schedule an appointment by calling (732) 906-9600 or at RedefineHealthcare.com.

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Redefine Healthcare is excited to announce our new physical therapist, Dr. Bhumi Patel, PT, DPT as our newest addition to the Physical Therapy Division.

Educational Background

While Dr. Bhumi Patel is Redefine Healthcare’s new physical therapist, she is not new to the world of physical therapy. Dr. Bhumi Patel received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Seton Hall University in New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She is certified in Blood Flor Restriction Training and LSVT-BIG Program. Dr. Patel has worked in a variety of settings including home-care and outpatient clinics, with prior internships as a student in sub-acute rehab and acute hospital care. She is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Specialties

By incorporating evidence-based literature into her treatment program, Dr. Patel strives to keep her patients engaged and active in the community. Aside from treating musculoskeletal and spine disorders, Dr. Patel has a special interest in vestibular rehabilitation. With a passion for movement science, Dr. Patel has been treating patients with orthopedic, neurologic, gait, and balance diagnoses at Redefine Healthcare. Dr. Patel believes in providing excellent care to her patients with empathy and compassion to help them reach their functional goals in their recovery process. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family, hiking, and traveling.

If you would like more information about our new physical therapist or Physical Therapy Division, please contact us at (732) 313-2610.

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Redefine Healthcare would like to wish you well during these difficult times. We understand that our patients still need care and will thus be keeping our doors open. We would like to assure you that we are following all preparedness and prevention guidelines established by the CDC to protect our patients and staff. Our patient’s health and wellness are our utmost priority.

Additionally, we are now offering Telemedicine Pain Management appointments to patients who might not feel comfortable coming into the office. During these telemedicine appointments, one of our board-certified physicians will conduct a thorough screening of your symptoms over the phone. To the best of their ability, they will then suggest an appropriate coarse of action for you.

We wish you all safe and well.

Please call Redefine Healthcare at (732) 313-2610 for the most up-to-date news on the status of our practice or to schedule your appointment.

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Physical medicine and rehabilitation, or PM&R, is not a well-known specialty, but it packs a powerful punch for those who benefit from it.

What Is PM&R?

In the simplest terms, PM&R is a specialty in medicine that helps to restore functionality to people who are living with a disability due to a disease, a disorder, or an injury. A PM&R physician oversees multidisciplinary care avenues that address the patient’s physical, emotional, medical, vocational, and social needs.

A PM&R physician, or a physiatrist, addresses more than the pain associated with a disability. While doctors may prescribe medication to mask the pain, a PM&R doctor treats the whole person by collaborating with a variety of health care professionals to design a holistic program that includes physical therapy, stretching exercises, massage, and medicine for short-term relief.

Who Should See a PM&R Physician?

Anyone who wants treatment for conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons may benefit from PM&R support. Here are examples of when you should consider seeing a PM&R physician:

• An accident left you with limited function or pain.
• You are recovering from the effects of a stroke or other types of nerve damage.
• You experience chronic pain from a stress injury or arthritis, or you have back problems that continue for more than three months.
• An illness has diminished your ability to move easily.

How a Physiatrist Treats Your Condition

A physiatrist will tailor a plan to address the specific needs of your ailment. For example, if you have chronic neck pain, there are short-term and long-term options and medical procedures to help. For short-term pain relief, engage in massage and stretching—a doctor may also prescribe medication to lessen your discomfort. Your doctor could prescribe strengthening exercises to prevent future pain. If surgery is necessary, he or she will work with your surgeon before and after the procedure.

A PM&R physician determines realistic goals, finds relief for your pain, and works with you to achieve success in rehabilitation and exercise programs. Your physiatrist is there when you have setbacks and will reassess a new strategy, make changes, and create new goals so that you never feel alone in your quest for improvement.

Benefits of Rehabilitation

Disabilities are typically not curable but improving the lifestyle of someone with a disability is vital in maintaining their sense of well-being. Rehabilitation doesn’t reverse or undo the damage, but it does restore a person’s bodily functions in a positive direction. A patient will find that they improve in the following ways:

• Treatments help to prevent complications from the disability.
• Function improves, allowing for greater movement in the areas reduced by the disability.
• Tools allow the patient to adapt to their environment.
• Coaching the patient as well as the family helps them to adapt to changes in lifestyle and mentality.

If you can perform an activity after rehabilitation that was impossible before, the psychological impact is enormous. The mental effects of returning to work after a successful rehabilitation process can also be immensely encouraging.

By visiting us and seeing a PM&R physician, you will be on your way to functioning at your highest level. Contact us today to partner with a physiatrist for a treatment plan tailored specifically for you.

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When February rolls in each year, our thoughts often jump to love. Valentine’s Day conjures some of our earliest memories of love, from drawing shapes on red paper in kindergarten to a fluttering heart in anticipation of a first date.

Fast-forward to adulthood, and hearts still dominate the second month of the year. We continue to give our hearts away, but as we age, we focus on nurturing the hearts inside our bodies so that we can be there for our loved ones in the years to come.

Here are a few things to know during American Heart Month.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number-one cause of death in the United States with one in three people dying from complications each year. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of heart attacks and the most common reason for fatalities.

Prevention

A healthy lifestyle holds tremendous value in preventing heart disease, and there are many ways to become healthier. By making some or all the choices below, you can keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check and lower the chances that you’ll experience heart problems.

• Smoking is harmful to your heart. Avoiding the habit is an excellent first step to a healthier lifestyle.
• Become physically active every day. Walk more and avoid the elevator by choosing the stairs.
• Reduce your weight, especially if you are living with obesity.
• Manage your stress. Practicing meditation or yoga can help to keep your thoughts calm.
• Limit your alcohol consumption. Avoid that second or third drink for better health.

Spinal Care

Did you know that spinal care also offers a pathway to fighting heart disease?

New studies are linking heart health to spinal care. The vertebrae that make up the spine house neural pathways that support almost every system in our body. If one path isn’t functioning correctly, the resulting imbalance may affect the health of other parts of our bodies, particularly the cardiovascular system.

One controlled study explored the connection between high blood pressure and the health of the spine. Participants had hypertension but refrained from taking medication beginning a month before the eight-week study. One group in the study received chiropractic manipulation, and the other group didn’t. The results at the end of the study revealed a significant reduction in blood pressure amongst participants who received the chiropractic manipulations.

Why Spinal Care Affects the Health of the Heart

An aligned spine encourages the body to balance its physiology naturally. When the neurological structures in the spine are in harmony, patients tend to experience improvements as these adjustments reduce nerve interference.

Spinal care may also impact a person experiencing heart palpitations. If the spine is out of alignment, it puts pressure on the body’s nerves, which in turn stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Stress is a significant cause of heart palpitations.

Chronic stress drives a lot of inflammation in the body, and too much inflammation speeds up the aging process, which raises your risk for heart disease.

Staying Healthy

We can’t control which genes we receive at birth or our predisposition to specific health issues. We can, however, make healthy lifestyle choices to help prevent health-related issues from becoming problematic.

If we throw away the cigarettes, avoid excess drinking, and start walking every day, we may add more years to our life. The fresh air that we inhale as we walk will reduce stress, help lower our blood pressure, and encourage us to maintain a healthy weight.

Thanks to modern research, we have an additional tool to stay healthy: when you visit us to align your spine, you can help reduce inflammation throughout your system and decrease the stress hormones released into your body.

You’ve got years ahead to give your heart to the ones you love. Let us be your partner in keeping your heart healthy.

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Redefine Healthcare offers epidural lysis of adhesions for patients with excess scarring in the epidural space. Lysis of adhesions is also known as the Racz procedure. This procedure helps address scar tissue conditions around the spine. Patients may have scar tissue in the area between the spinal cord and the bones that support and surround it, known as the epidural space.

When foreign matter (including scar tissue) appears in this area, it can lead to problems with normal motor or sensory functions. Scar tissue can also pose a threat to the spinal nerves by physically compressing them or by damaging them chemically by releasing inflammatory molecules in the epidural space. Epidural Lysis of adhesions can reduce these risks by decreasing or eliminating the scar tissue.

Conditions Lysis of Adhesions Can Address

Lysis of adhesions is an increasingly popular option for many patients with chronic pain. In particular, it helps manage the symptoms of failed back surgery syndrome. These symptoms are caused by back surgery complications resulting in excess scar tissue. There are other conditions where lysis of adhesions is used, such as spinal stenosis. In spinal stenosis, the nervous tissue is physically compressed by the scar tissue surrounding it. This condition can result in sensory disorders, loss of motor control, and pain.

Most lysis of adhesions procedures is performed on the lower back. However, it may also be helpful in some cases involving the cervical spine (neck). Cervical issues can cause chronic pain in the upper limbs or neck. Lysis can help restore normal function by removing adhesions. It also relieves pain, soreness, and inflammation for many patients. The results of this procedure typically last up to 12 weeks.

How it’s Performed

Lysis of adhesions is performed by administering medications and other tools that help break up scar tissue in a specific area. Your surgeon injects a local anesthetic to eliminate any pain. Then, they’ll use imaging technology to visualize the scar tissue for accuracy. Or, they may insert a probe with a small camera attached for the same purpose. Once they are confident about the precise location that needs to be treated, they’ll deliver special medication such as saline and hyaluronidase, which cause the adhesions to break up. They may also administer drugs designed to inhibit pain and inflammation, such as steroids.

Possible Risks

This is a safe and effective procedure. However, as with any treatment, there are risks. Most of the risks associated with this procedure are related to the placement of the needle and catheter. Other potential complications include temporary discomfort at the injection site or temporary headaches. These risks are small, and the benefits of the procedure will, in most cases, far outweigh them. Be sure to ask your doctor any questions you may have before undergoing this or any procedure.

If you would like more information about epidural lysis of adhesions, please call Redefine Healthcare at (732) 313-2610 or contact them here.

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Redefine Healthcare announced that they will offer sacroiliac joint injections to provide relief from sciatica symptoms and lower back pain associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. These joints are located next to the spine, connecting the hip on each side with the sacrum. When one of these joints becomes inflamed or otherwise damaged, it can be painful.

A sacroiliac joint injection can help diagnose the reason for the patient’s pain and to provide pain relief. These two actions may be separated into an infusion that’s purely diagnostic or purely therapeutic, but it’s also possible to combine them into one injection.

Diagnostic Sacroiliac Joint Injections

A diagnostic injection can be used to confirm suspected dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint. The sacroiliac joint is numbed with a local anesthetic before the dose is given under x-ray guidance to ensure accuracy. Once the numbing medication has been injected, the patient will attempt to reproduce their pain symptoms by performing activities that typically cause pain. If the patient experiences significant pain relief during this time, then the doctor will make a tentative diagnosis of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. If a second test confirms the first diagnosis, then the doctor will recommend treatment.

Therapeutic Sacroiliac Injections

Doctors perform therapeutic sacroiliac injections to relieve the pain associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The injection is performed the same way as a diagnostic injection, except that it includes an anti-inflammatory medication along with the numbing medicine to provide superior pain relief. If the patient’s pain relief is long-lasting after this injection, then they may begin physical therapy to reduce pain even further and help the patient regain their previous levels of activity. These injections may be repeated several times per year to maintain the same level of pain relief and normal function of the joint.

What To Expect After Treatment

One of the best things about sacroiliac joint injections is that they provide effective pain relief without opioid pain medications and significant downtime. In general, patients may experience mild soreness at the injection site for a couple of days. Ice or heat may help. Some patients notice that their pain decreases immediately; in others, pain decreases gradually over several days. Once the numbing medicine wears off, patients may experience increased pain; if this happens, they should limit activities and take prescribed pain medication for the first 24 hours, and this increased pain should subside. Patients may receive a pain log to keep track of their pain for the first two weeks after the procedure. Tracking this information and sharing it with your doctor help them determine the best next steps in your treatment plan.

About Redefine Healthcare

Redefine Healthcare provides a range of services including physical therapy, chiropractic, and sports medicine to treat issues such as back pain, joint pain, injuries, and more. The Redefine team is led by premier board-certified specialists who prioritize patient care. Contact Redefine Healthcare today if you think sacroiliac joint injections might be right for you or would like to schedule a consultation.

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